Sunday, August 02, 2015, 1:27 p.m.

Beebe: Vote on Medicaid expansion during regular session

LITTLE ROCK  Arkansas Gov. Mike Beebe says he’d prefer that legislators consider whether to expand Medicaid eligibility during this year’s regular session rather than return to the Capitol later this year to consider it separately.

Beebe said Thursday that he won’t call a special session on an issue unless he’s sure it can be resolved in three days.

He said he’d rather lawmakers take up whether to expand Medicaid under the federal health-care law during the regular session that begins Jan. 14.

Legislative leaders aren’t proposing a special session on expansion, but have said the idea is appealing.

Republicans in the House and Senate generally oppose the expansion, but have said they’re open to a compromise that would allow changes to the Medicaid program.

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For some reason Beebe is really out front on this issue. Too bad when it comes to economic development in Arkansas and the retaining of good jobs like those 5,000 jobs in FT. Smith lost to China and Mexico, he and the congressional delegation stood by and did not raise a voice or try to intervene or save the jobs. Odd set of priorities.